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Compelling Question:

¿Is race real?

Process

To search for answers to the compelling question - Is Race Real - you are going to complete a number of multimedia activities and then undertake an informed civic action!

A word of caution:

Talking about race isn't easy. It's personal, it's political, it's visceral. It's something, in fact, that a lot of people spend a lot of time and energy not talking about. But as little as most of us talk about it, race has a titanic impact on each and every one of us. Enter into these lessons and the conversations they will spark with compassion, open ears, and lots of empathy. Say unto other! Think before you speak! And please don't ask any student to speak for all members of any race. It's fatiguing and unfair.

In an open classroom where there is discussion of sensitive topics some people shut down, others won't shut up. I don't want my class to be totally dominated by the loudest so I have a question box. At the beginning of class I ask students take a moment and write down any questions they have about race and submit them anonymously into the box. I can guide the class through any questions that are asked in good faith, or students can respond in writing, on our class discussion board, or on Twitter.

I get some great questions. I get other ones, too. I've shared examples of both kind below. Some of these questions warranted further exploration, others did not.

My parents say Black, my grandparents, Negro, what is the preferred term for African Americans today?

Why are Asians’ eyes so small?

Wouldn't we be better if we were all just colorblind?

Shouldn't we just move on and stop living in the past, racially?

Can minorities be racist?

Why do White people smell like potato chips? They do.

At what point does stepping around racial issues for the sake of sensitivity become ridiculous or too much?

Why are there so few interracial groups eating lunch together at this school?

We have an NAACP, would a National Association for the Advancement of White People be considered a racist organization?

And one final thing. I remind my students that whenever they start a sentence with, "This might seem racist, but." it probably is, and they should think stop speaking and start thinking.

Your opinionThink about all you have read and learned in this brief history of race, think about where our country is currently in regards to discrimination and inequality, and explain whether you think the federal government has done enough, too much, or the right amount to fight US discrimination.

How did this activity help you think about race?

Activity 5) White Privilege

Scholar, Peggy McIntosh writes about ways that white people are privileged in America today. Read the list of privileges from The Invisible Backpack of White Privilege, check the number of privileges you personally receive, and consider how that number would be different for various races. Think about McIntosh's list, add any other racial privileges she might have left out, and make a top ten list of white privileges in America.

Inquiry Extension

Informed Civic Action

Now that you've completed the activities, take one of the following informed civic actions:

1)Interview someone of another race for ten minutes. Make a list of 10 questions you'd like to ask them, but don't ask any questions about race at all.

2)Make a proposal to connect people of different races in your community. Share your proposal with the local paper, mayor, city council, or community foundation. Be as specific as possible about the Big Ws: Who, What, When, Where, & Why.

3)Identify one racial problem in America that the government could take action on. Make a proposal for the 28th Amendment making a Constitutional Amendment to ameliorate one racial problem in America.

4)Identify one racial problem in your community that you could take action on. Make a proposal for one way you could ameliorate one racial problem in your life.

Compelling Question:

¿Is race real?

Now that we've completed our race inquiry let's return to the compelling question that got us here: IS RACE REAL? You've got a lot of information and data to work with now that should help you give a fuller answer to our compelling question. Write your answer to the question in the comments section below. After you've commented, keep the question alive, write more about it, ask the questions to others, talk about it with friends and family, and most importantly, do something about it! Thanks for taking part in our inquiry.